Kournikova withdraws from Sea Island tournament

SEA ISLAND - A thigh injury forced Anna Kournikova to withdraw from the Cloister Cup before her semifinal match.<br> <br> Kournikova quit the tournament Sunday after a practice earlier in the day.<br> <br> The withdrawal advanced fellow Russian Maria Sharapova to the final, where she beat Australian Christina Wheeler 6-4, 6-3 Sunday.<br> <br> Kournikova was first injured April 9 at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina.<br> <br> She struggled through her quarterfinal match against Sunitha Rao on Friday, which she won 6-3, 6-3. Kournikova&#39;s tightly wrapped thigh gave her problems throughout the match, and she was limping by the end.<br> <br> The Cloister Cup was Kournikova&#39;s first event since she was first injured.

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